As Jenson Button gets his MBE from the Queen, one has to wonder when the achievements of his boss might be officially recognised, over and above the CBE he was awarded some years ago?

While Jenson was picking up his MBE at Buckingham Palace, Ron Dennis was back at McLaren's HQ in Woking where his company was marking the 40th anniversary of the death of its founder, Bruce McLaren.

A previously reported, a minute's silence in honour of the legendary Kiwi, who was killed whilst testing one of his own Can-Am cars at Goodwood, was followed by a minute's thunder as Tyler Alexander, who worked with Bruce during the early years, and Dennis' one-time business partner Neil Trundle (Rondel Racing) fired up a Chevrolet powered M8D in tribute.

A source tells us: "Ron stood about 10 feet behind the exhausts of the car as it was revved. He was wearing an expensive and well-tailored business suit, but didn't flinch (nor cover his ears) as the orange monster churned out fumes and flames while Neil Trundle gave the old Chevy V8 its head. It's at times like these that you remember that Ron is a racer through and through."

Yes he is, and he's also a man who has worked his way up the hard way. Starting as a mechanic with Cooper, by the age of twenty-one he was working on Jack Brabham's car, the Australian notorious for his attention to detail and not suffering fools lightly.

Over the years, as McLaren, which Ron bought into in 1980, achieved greater success, the man from Woking was recognised not only in motor sport but in the business world also, his company widely lauded as a role model for its successful management style.

Not only is Ron a proud Englishman, he is also fiercely proud of Woking, the town where he grew up, the town to which he moved the McLaren empire thereby creating hundreds of jobs. Indeed, other than Paul Weller, we can't think of anyone else who has done so much for the Surrey town.

Considering some of the dubious characters being handed titles these days, isn't it time the government recognised someone who's actually achieved something worthwhile.

A Knighthood for the Ronzer.